Well, tomorrow we start the tech process. Cue to cue is Saturday and then the band arrives on Sunday. This is usually the most stressful part of the process because this is where we add elements we've never had before. New sound, costumes, props, etc. Even though there's a lot going on, it's my favorite part of the rehearsal process. Sometimes when a particular part or moment hasn't quite come together yet, all you need is a costume and an electric guitar wailing in background to make it all suddenly come together.
I'm almost finished reading Eva's biography. If Evita (the show, or the person) was ever of any interest to anyone reading this, I strongly recommend reading the book. It's a fast read, so don't worry. When I was younger (and perhaps either more naive or less attentive to detail,) I never worried too much about background research. With this show though, I've really had a great time diving into the real life of Eva Peron and the time period in which it all took place. Right now, we're all trying to get that Argentinian vibe going. Even though we're not using accents, Scott is emphasizing how important it is that we understand and perform the material from the correct cultural perspective. We've not American or British or Canadian, we are Argentinian. I've never been outside the country (lame, I know) but I've heard people talk about culture shock. Since I've never experienced it, I can't say how it feels, but I'd love to be able to find out someday. It amazes me how quickly some people dismiss cultural differences as either "bad" or "weird." In some countries, men are much more open about their emotions, even in public. Here, when a man cries in public he's automatically labeled as a pansy. In some cultures, both genders display their emotions much more publicly and passionately than in other countries. And what's so wrong with that? We don't want to approach this from an American viewpoint, we want to approach it from an Argentinian viewpoint. I hope we can convey that to the fullest extent.
I was going over lyrics last week and I suddenly had a thought about one line in particular. In the Lament, Evita says:
"I could burn with the splendor of the brightest fire, or else, or else I could choose time."
What she is basically saying here is that she could have had a "normal" life. She could have gone off to Paraguay with Peron and lived simply and happily with the man she loved for the rest of her days. Maybe it wouldn't have been as glamorous. There would have been no parties, no rallies, no crowds of people screaming her name, no power. Still, it might have been nice. Instead, she chose a much more difficult path. She chose to fight for Peron, for power, for the politics. Through her work as first lady, she literally worked herself to death. In the book it talks about 16+ hour days she would work, dedicating her life to the working class, her people. She traveled Europe without rest to spread the word of Peron and of the glory of Argentina. As previously discussed, some of her practices as she climbed the ladder weren't always the nicest, but she really was proud of her country and of her people. She wanted the world to know of Argentine glory. This kind of work is really what killed her. Well, that and the cancer. But Evita didn't even know what she had that made her so ill. But the years of working herself to the bone made her body incredibly weak and frail. Even though her life was cut short, she did indeed burn with the splendor of the brightest fire. And this is where that thought comes in...
At the end of Pippin, Pippin is faced with this exact same choice.
Let me back up for a moment for anyone not super familiar with the show Pippin. Pippin (the character) basically tells the audience at the beginning of the show that he is an extraordinary human being who is meant to do extraordinary things. The Leading Player sets him up on various adventures so he can do extraordinary things and find happiness. However, nothing ends up working out. Nothing works out for Pippin until he falls in love. After all of his various quests, Pippin discovers that even though there is nothing extraordinary about it, a simple life on a farm with a family is what makes him the happiest. In the end, Pippin is faced with a choice by the Leading Player and the rest of the ensemble. He could choose "time," meaning living the rest of his days relatively simply, but happy with Katherine and Theo. Or, he could literally burn like the sun in one last blaze of glory. The Leading Player explains to Pippin that it was all leading up to this one moment, the Grand Finale. He tells Pippin that he can step up onto the platform and they'll light him on fire and he'll go out with the biggest bang of all, shining like the sun. (He also explains that he obviously wouldn't be returning after such a stunt.) Despite the intense peer pressure, Pippin decides that he doesn't want to burn up in a blaze of glory like the sun, he wants time. Time, again, meaning a long, quiet, simple life with his family. No glamour, no glory, just time. Pippin wanted to do extraordinary things, but didn't. Eva Peron was thrust into the spotlight at a young age and became almost a like goddess to the people of Argentina. Pippin chose time, and lived. Eva didn't.
Obviously, Pippin is a made up character, and Eva Peron really did have cancer. But one has to wonder, if her body hadn't been so weak, could she have survived? If she had taken time off or not been so beaten down, could she have lived even a little bit longer? No one really knows...
My main focus right now is to continue to dig deep and find the right balance for Eva. I want the audience to relate to her and to understand why the people loved her. Today, I look at some celebrities and wonder why the world is so fascinated by them. I want to make sure that no one wonders that about Eva.
Well, I suppose I've rambled long enough. Until next time!
Taylor
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